Eagle Rare smells like bourbon: it's got the vanilla and corn syrup sweetness you expect from a bourbon, but I didn't find it wildly complex. The palate was a lot more interesting. The sweet spices were present, but fairly understated, rounded out by a burnt sugar type of sweetness. However, it had an intriguing pepperiness with a hint of something a bit medicinal and minty that piqued my curiosity. It's a pretty robust bourbon that is on the dry and spicy side. Much more fun to sip than to smell!

Dive into Eagle Rare Single Barrel for aromas of toasted bread, vanilla, charcoal and almonds. Take a sip to find a very rich, oily mouthfeel and lots of oak that surfaces with sweet caramel and dry resin. Dried fruits, leather and cocoa hit mid palate, and then the finish: it’s very peppery with lots of baking spices, but a honeyed background keeps things in check. The finish lasts seemingly forever. That’s one serious whiskey. It hits all the typical bourbon notes, but adds another layer of depth. That complex, assertive and intense nature takes it beyond your usual suspects. And that alluring play between spicy and sweet keeps us coming back for more. Source: Kevin Gray, cocktailenthusiast.com, April 15, 2012